Following the 1963 Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainright, all states began to provide legal representation to defendants in criminal cases that cannot afford to pay for their own lawyer. What basic freedom is this meant to protect, and how does it affect individuals who are defendants in criminal cases?

Select one:
A. The protection against self-incrimination; it informs a defendant that they do not have bear witness against themselves.
B. The right to freedom of assembly; it allows a defendant to assemble a legal team to represent himself.
C. The right to freedom of speech; it allows a defendant to be able to represent themselves in a court of law.
D. The right to a lawyer; it allows a defendant to always be able to defend themselves in a criminal case.